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The elves were startled when they appeared in the ruins of the Great Library in the presence of a gigantic black dragon. Within moments however, they identified the dragon there to be their long-time ally Jewel. They were also very happy to see a unicorn for the first time in many years!
"You carry my Chosen, elf!" Jewel immediately thundered.
"She is badly witch stricken, friend dragon!" said Pip, "and much in need of your enlightened healing."
In moments Mary was full sized and laying at the feet of Jewel. She was unconscious, and her clothing was dirty and in tatters.
The huge black dragon lowered her head above the girl and gently lay her gigantic black tongue over her like a thick blanket.
"She wears a unicorn amulet," said the dragon. "She is damaged and drained of most energy but she is free of Evil. I do not feel repelled by the amulet."
"You bear no Evil," said Charm. "My amulet will not impede you."
"It is likely due to the amulet that Mary lives, though only barely," the dragon soon announced. "No witch should have been able to harm my Chosen, or harm someone bearing a unicorn amulet. You did the right thing to bring her to me swiftly, elf. Leave us alone now, for I must focus solely on the delicate and intricate task of healing her."
The elves, the elf/frog, and the unicorn withdrew and spoke together in hushed words outside the library and away from the gigantic black dragon that lay before it, as quiet and motionless as her Chosen and as if in deep sleep.
"How about changing me back to my proper elf form, Boy?" Farnmouth immediately asked his nephew. "Though I am without doubt the most handsome frog that there ever was!"
The form of the huge frog wavered, and then in seconds was replaced by the form of a little old elf that wore ornate robes of many colors.
"I am sorry that I left you here as a frog, Uncle," Pip lamented.
"But it was a highly enlightening experience and now you have now made me completely well again, dear Nephew!" said Farnmouth, as he embraced Pip with obvious affection. "I am thankful that you remember your shape transformation spells! DID YOU CATCH UP WITH THE WITCH?"
"No," Pip replied, "though I have seen far too much of her Evil doings; she has left a wide trail of death here on Narma and now also on Earth."
"It is well that you didn't catch her," said Farnmouth. "Doubtless she would have destroyed you."
"I fear that you are correct. She is far too powerful for a witch, Uncle."
"She is far more than a witch now, Nephew."
"I agree," said Pip. "She harbors great Evil, much more than is normal even for a witch."
"Yes, small one," said Charm. "It is Evil of unusual intensity which first attracted your uncle to these ruins. A creature of great Evil was trolling for a host to do its biding, and finally found the ideal such being in the form of Witch Greble."
"The Witch harbors an even greater Evil than herself?" asked Pip.
"That is very nearly the right question, Nephew," said Farnmouth. "Perhaps there is hope for your academic career after all!"
"You refer here to the Third Axiom of Menmu which states that the right question is in itself most of the answer," added Belinda.
"Obviously," said Farnmouth." Let me explain to you what transpired, Nephew, and most conceivable questions will thereby be answered expeditiously
"A suitable strategy," agreed Kip, as Belinda nodded her head in agreement and made a notation in her ledger.
"The Witch got to the library a few minutes after I did," said Farnworth. "That was shortly before you arrived, Pip."
"I saw you fall and sensed your thoughts no more, Uncle!" said Pip. "Sensing your absence of communicated thought I concluded you were dead, not merely disabled, and immediately chased after your attacker!"
"Logical though highly careless and impulsive," noted Kip.
"We were both very fortunate that day," said Farnmouth. "Despite its feel of Evil the ring had a strange attraction. Had the Witch not changed me in to a harmless frog and escaped with the ring herself, I would have probably gathered up the ring myself and been destroyed by it. You are lucky because had you caught up with her for your vengeance, as she would have doubtlessly destroyed you. Yes, we have both been very fortunate."
"Of what ring do you now speak?" asked Pip.
"The ornate black ring in the library that held great Evil," said Farnmouth. "I traced its trail of death and Evil stench from a nearby portal several miles to the library. It was only there for a few days before both Greble and I sensed and discovered it. I was very lucky that she is the one that ended up with the ring. I could sense it directing me to wear it and was on the verge of giving in when the Witch arrived and foolishly snatched it up for herself. No doubt she mistook it for an ordinary talisman of power. She sought to possess it but it soon possessed her!"
"But what is the ring?" said Pip. "Evil is formless and mindless! It doesn't take the shape of rings that entice folks to wear it!"
"I can answer that question," said Mary, as she joined the group. She looked very tired but well, the others were happy to notice. Even her torn and dirty clothing had been fully restored. Gigantic Jewel stood over them, looking down at them and listening intently as Mary continued. "As the ring helped the Witch attack me I realized its secret. As the Chosen of the Black Dragon Jewel I could sense and recognize its true elemental essence. The black ring of the Witch that harbors great Evil is a dragon. A black male dragon!"
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